There is no single test to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis – it is a clinical diagnosis, meaning that the diagnosis comes about as a result of multiple tests and symptom analysis. When I was diagnosed an MRI, a lumbar puncture, and paralysis in my right arm and on the right side of my face were all taken into account. Although it took years to get to this point, you could say that I was fortunate to have such a clear case – many individuals have a very difficult time receiving a diagnosis while others may be incorrectly diagnosed with MS. The lumbar puncture, or a crude version of it, was developed in 1889 to relieve intracranial pressure for tuberculous meningitis. It has been somewhat refined over the years as many different uses for it were discovered, but the basics remain the same.
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